There are so many things that happen during a week with nine Border Collies and it's fun to share....

Sunday

How Many Kisses?

Our dogs are so expressive and with their kisses, they are so different
and do things in such a different way.
Take Abby for example, she will lay next to the bed when I am asleep and
when she hears my eyelids open, like a jack-in-the-box she springs into the “soon
to be” war zone and will place one paw on one side of my head and the other on
the other and with her Brillo pad tongue washing my face even if it doesn’t
need it and at times nearly taking my breath and getting my pillow wet, but to
her, she is giving me much needed attention that I’m sure is needed according
to her.

Tools of the Trade

But
how many kisses a day is enough?One, Two,
tens or even hundreds? I can safely say
that someone upstairs feels that I need thousands because that’s what I
get.I would venture to say that nearly
every aspect with my dogs is somehow filled with wet, sloppy, messy, cluttered
kisses.As I stop and think about it,
they are like a forever fountain of dog slobber that is painted with a very
long warm paint brush always on the move.Not only is it wet and slimy, it can reach from one ear to the other,
going straight through my head, not to mention cleaning my nose and mouth hole
along the way when it is least expected. Don’t take this wrong, it’s something that I
don’t advocate, it just happens in the most unusual times and when I least
expect it, which is often for affection or just a cleanup.At times they will put on their “Red Cross
Dog Hat” and clean and treat any booboo, cut or pain making the recipient
relaxed and pain free like no other medication can.It’s nothing for Clancy to lick a cut or bug
bite when he feels the need to take care of me and I can honestly tell you, it
does make me feel better and in a weird way, I like it.

I'm Ready...

There
are many ways you can get kisses, tying your shoes, sitting on the couch,
fixing a pain, waking you up, going to sleep and anytime you’re down, they seem
to be there with the right amount of sugar.Probably the most aggressive time I get the attention is when I walk out
on the porch with my shoes in my hand and sit on the back step trying to tie my
shoes because I am in the right position.Every dog will RUN to greet me with their tongues primed, bouncing from
side to side ready to give thanks that we are going somewhere or to play and
how can you turn them down?

I
would assume I get licks for every event of the way, waking up, going outside,
coming in, eating every meal and every function and if you have trouble with
this just having one or two dogs, try nine but the absolute worse time for this
when you’re trying to have some private time in the "necessary room" and the door
is left ajar and in just a flash, presto you’ve been loved by multiple tongues
at the most private time of your life.

It
sounds like I’m complaining about the attention or trouble with all the events
or even trying to get sympathy, but if you want to feel sorry for someone, feel
sorry for the person who had a dog that never gets his daily quota of kisses… How
many is too many?It’s never enough…Ken